Vs 12-22: Jerusalem is represented as a captive female, lamenting, and seeking the mercy of God. The Second Lamentation – Chapter 2

God’s anger at Israel’s sins – Vs 1

God gets angry because of our sins

God hates the sin that we do – Proverbs 6:16 -20

God is not an enemy to his people

God is angry with us and corrects us because He loves us

God loves Israel – but He will not put up with sin – either theirs or ours

God brought Israel from prosperity to adversity. He allowed her a big fall – vs 5-7 Chapter 3: The Third Lamentation

Jeremiah’s Grief – Vs 1-2

Rod of His wrath = God’s correction with His anger

Vs 2 – darkness is calamity and light is prosperity

Vs 4 – sin makes you old before your time

There is hope – even in adversity

Vs 18 -21: here the prophet realizes that, even though he was in despair, there reallyis HOPE.

Vs 22 – It is only by God’s mercies / grace, that we are even alive God’s compassion’s do not fail

Vs 23 – every day – God’s mercies are new.

Great = mighty – more – multiply – plenteous

Faithfulness – security – fidelity – morality – stability – truth

the old hymn – Great is thy faithfulness – is from this verse

Vs 24 – 26 – 29: HOPE

Vs 31: Psalms 94:14

Vs 41 – lifting up the hands without the heart is sheer hypocrisy.

Psalms 86:4

heart = courage

The Fourth Lamentation: Chapter 4

God’s Anger – vs 1-2

Notice the change here

Sin tarnishes the beauty of the most excellent gifts

Gold, tried in the fire – its outward appearance may be dimmed, but its real value can never be changed

The horrors of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem are again described.

The sad consequences of sin in the Nation of Israel

we should seriously consider that the same causes can bring down the local church in this day and age

Jeremiah laments the effects of the famine: vs 3-10

Vs 3 – the sea monsters = whales – take care of their young

Vs 3 – the Ostriches lay their eggs in the sand and leave them there

Vs 10 – hunger has driven the women of Israel to abandon their young

Jeremiah laments the taking and sacking of Jerusalem – Vs 11-12

Jeremiah acknowledges that the sins of their prophets and priests were the cause of all God’s anger and judgment upon Israel – Vs 13-16

The Fifth Lamentation – Chapter 5

Jerusalem’s prayer

James 5:13 – when you are afflicted – pray

Vs 2 – the land of Canaan was in the hands of their enemy

Notes: In your darkest days of trials and troubles, when all around us is gloom and your life seems to be falling apart – we ought still to maintain our confidence in God. We should seek his strength and help by humble confession and praying … crying out to God.

We should have sincere repentance and obedience. If we do this, we may be assured that our present sorrows, and trials etc. will end in joy and gladness; just as God, at the appointed time, forgave and restored the Jews to their own land.

Vs 5: They felt the yoke of bondage – like the bull or the ox that has a yoke upon his neck

Vs 6: They made treaties with their enemies in order to get the basic necessities of life

Vs 9: They could not go into the wilderness to feed their cattle, or to get the necessities of life, without being harassed and plundered by marauding parties.

This exposed them to the peril of their lives.

This was predicted by Moses – Deut. 28:31

Vs 12: They were suspended from hooks in the wall by their hands until they died through torture and exhaustion.

The body of Saul was fastened to the wall of Bethshan, probably in the same way; but his head had already been taken off.

They were hung in this way that they might be devoured by the fowls of the air.

It was a custom with the Persians after they had slain, strangled, or beheaded their enemies, to hang their bodies upon poles

The prophet knows that the Lord can hear and deliver them

Vs 19 – God does not change; he seeks God’s renewed love to Israel

Vs 20 – he realizes that God does not forsake us; a long time may seem so: Heb. 13:5

Vs 21 – make us the way we were before we sinned. Restore our land – our Templ etc.

Vs 22 – We are now greatly humbled, we feel our sin, and see our folly.

once more, restore us, and we shall never again forsake God.

He heard the prayer; and at the end of seventy years they were restored to their own land